This refers to Taj M Khattak’s article ‘What did Mujib want?’ (Dec 21). The answer is: he wanted Yahya Khan to obey the verdict of the people. But because of the intransigence of just one person (Z. A. Bhutto), he was not allowed to form government, despite obtaining a majority in the 1970 elections. Even after he was released and flown to London, and before returning to Bangladesh, he said that he didn’t want Pakistan to break up and that he could consider the option of a confederation.

Unfortunately, he never repeated this suggestion after reaching his home country, perhaps as a result of pressure from India and the hardliners surrounding him.